The information catastrophe

Melvin Vopson

doi:10.1063/5.0019941

The information catastrophe

Melvin Vopson

School of Mathematics & Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Currently we produce ~10²¹ digital bits of information annually on Earth. Assuming 20% annual growth rate, we estimate that after ~350 years from now, the number of bits produced will exceed the number of all atoms on Earth, ~10⁵⁰. After ~250 years, the power required to sustain this digital production will exceed 18.5 × 10¹² Watts, i.e. the total planetary power consumption today, and after ~500 years from now the digital content will account for more than half of the Earth’s mass, according to the mass-energy-information equivalence principle. Besides the existing global challenges such as climate, environment, population, food, health, energy and security, our estimates here point to another singularity event for our planet, called the Information Catastrophe.

Original language	English
Article number	085014
Number of pages	4
Journal	AIP Advances
Volume	10
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0019941
Publication status	Published - 11 Aug 2020

Keywords

Landauer principle
Digital information
Big Data
Information physics
Mass-energy-information equivalence principle

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1063/5.0019941

The information catastropheFinal published version, 1.79 MBLicence: CC BY

18 Citations
2 Article

The world’s data explained: how much we’re producing and where it’s all stored
Vopson, M., 4 May 2021, The Conversation.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Open Access
The mass-energy-information equivalence principle
Vopson, M., 6 Sept 2019, In: AIP Advances. 9, 4 p., 095206.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
568 Downloads (Pure)

Dataset for 'The Information Catastrophe'.
Vopson, M. (Creator), University of Portsmouth, 12 Aug 2020
DOI: 10.17029/60d74cee-ed70-41e2-a802-873b7fe1dc34
Dataset

File

1 Active

Applications of Information Theory to fundamental Physics
Vopson, M. & Robson, S.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
3/06/19 → …
Project: Research

1 Editorial activity
1 Membership of board

Information Physics Institute (External organisation)
Melvin Vopson (Chair), Anna Vopson (Chair) & Serban Lepadatu (Member)
15 Sept 2022
Activity: Membership types › Membership of board
Applied Sciences (Switzerland) (Journal)
Melvin Vopson (Guest editor) & Jaewoo Joo (Guest editor)
1 Jul 2021 → 31 Dec 2021
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity

Digital content will be half 'Earth's mass' by 2245 as 'information catastrophe' looms
Melvin Vopson
11/08/20 → 19/09/20
21 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research cited
Testable theory suggests information has mass and could account for universe’s dark matter
Melvin Vopson
6/09/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research cited

Cite this

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title = "The information catastrophe",

abstract = "Currently we produce ~1021 digital bits of information annually on Earth. Assuming 20% annual growth rate, we estimate that after ~350 years from now, the number of bits produced will exceed the number of all atoms on Earth, ~1050. After ~250 years, the power required to sustain this digital production will exceed 18.5 × 1012 Watts, i.e. the total planetary power consumption today, and after ~500 years from now the digital content will account for more than half of the Earth{\textquoteright}s mass, according to the mass-energy-information equivalence principle. Besides the existing global challenges such as climate, environment, population, food, health, energy and security, our estimates here point to another singularity event for our planet, called the Information Catastrophe.",

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The information catastrophe

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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